Taking to the skies in North Carolina means flying in one of its most popular cities, Charlotte.
It sounds like fun, right? Yet it’s not something you can do without a drone license, so what’s required to get a drone license in North Carolina?
Here’s how to get a drone license in North Carolina:
- Follow the FAA’s regulatory criteria
- Sign up for your own FTN through IACRA
- Find a North Carolina FAA Knowledge Testing Center and register
- Study for the exam
- Pass the Part 107 test
- Request your license through FAA Form 8710-13
You’ve come to the right place if you’re eager to discover what it takes to become a North Carolina commercial drone pilot.
I’ll walk you through all the steps and processes, from registration to study resources and more!
Here’s how to get a drone license in North Carolina
Okay, so you want a drone license, as that’s the only legal way to fly in the United States.
Your first decision is whether to pursue a commercial or recreational drone license. Between the two, I recommend the Remote Pilot Certificate or commercial drone license.
Why? It’s the more expansive of the two, with more pilot rights, although it requires you to work harder to get it.
You have to pass a paid exam, versus what’s asked of you for the hobbyist license or TRUST certificate. You have to take a free online test for that one.
However, having a commercial license is worth it, as you can make money with your drone. How cool is that?
Okay, so you’re ready to go for your Remote Pilot Certificate, right? I thought so. Here’s what to do.
How I Passed Part 107 (& The Course That Helped Me do That)
Follow the FAA’s regulatory criteria
Before you can get anywhere with the process, you need to make sure you’re allowed to proceed. The FAA only allows certain people to take the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam.
That’s not to keep you from achieving your dreams or anything like that. Instead, it’s for the safety of everyone in the skies.
So, what’s required of you? Well, first, you must be 16 or older.
You also have to be mentally and physically capable of safely operating a drone, and you need a full grasp of English since that’s the only language the FAA administers the test.
That’s it for the first step, so if you’ve checked all those boxes, make sure to pat yourself on the back for your accomplishment.
Sign up for your own FTN through IACRA
Of course, we’re only just getting started. Remember, you still have to pass an aeronautical knowledge test before you can get anywhere with your drone license aspirations.
Before you can do that, you need a way for the FAA to identify you. At this early stage of your drone career, this is handy as you go through the test registration and licensing processes.
Once you begin flying regularly, the FAA will use your identifier to determine if you’re legally using your drone.
So, what is this identifier, anyway? It’s called an FAA Tracking Number, appropriately enough. The only way to get one is through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application or IACRA.
Familiarize yourself with the website now, as IACRA is going to be one of your most-used websites on the road to obtain your Remote Pilot Certificate.
For now, you need to make an account on IACRA to get your FTN. Let’s review the steps.
First, visit the IACRA website here. Navigate to the upper right corner where it says Register and click the link. This begins your registration on IACRA.
The registration is a two-page form that should only take about five minutes.
Before you create an account, IACRA asks you to check a box for the role you’re registering for. You should check Applicant, but review the admin, certifying officer, and instructor roles to confirm if any are relevant to you.
After that, read IACRA’s terms of service (which are only a paragraph). If you agree, click the Continue button to go to the second page.
Jump straight to the Personal Information category. You don’t have to complete every form field, so you can bypass the Certificate Information section when registering as an applicant.
Add all your personal information, like your gender, email address, and full name. Next, choose two security question answers from a series of dropdown questions.
Finally, make an IACRA username and password, confirming your password before you click the Register button.
And that’s all there is to it! IACRA will email you an account confirmation with your username and FTN.
All FTNs are eight digits and comprised of letters and numbers. Yours is completely unique.
You don’t have to memorize your FTN. You can always check your IACRA account to find it.
Find a North Carolina Knowledge Testing Center and register
I mentioned before how you can’t take the commercial drone exam online, so where do you take it? At an FAA Knowledge Testing Center.
These centers across the country are approved by the FAA for administering the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam. You can begin your search for a Knowledge Testing Center and register for your exam through PSI.
PSI is a popular testing platform FAA uses for this part of the commercial drone licensing process.
Ready to create an account? Great. Click here to visit the PSI site. As of 2024, you need multi-factor authentication through an authenticator app that uses temporary one-time passwords to make your account.
You can then click the Create an Account button. Verify your identity by sharing your FTN.
You can then continue to the User Registration page, where you can create a username and password. You also have to input your full name and email address.
Click the Continue button when you’re ready to proceed. PSI will send you an email, which could appear in your spam or junk folder. When the email comes through, click the link in it to verify your account.
Log into PSI with your new credentials. They have a Part 107 test practice exam under Exam Resources, but what you’re looking for is the Find a Test Center page.
Click the link on the PSI page to begin your Knowledge Testing Center search. You can search for testing centers between Lexington, Chapel Hill, Asheville, Charlotte, and Manteo by typing in your zip code.
You’re required to select your country and the exam, which should be Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG). Click the blue Search button to find a Knowledge Testing Center near you. You can then register to take the exam.
Study for the exam
While the practice test on PSI’s website is helpful, it only quizzes you on what you’re already supposed to know. How do you learn the content on the aeronautical knowledge exam so you can pass?
That’s the question every aspiring commercial drone pilot asks themselves at this stage. It’s an important question considering the cost of the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam, which is $165 per attempt.
Yes, it’s really that much!
We at Droneblog recognized the need for comprehensive FAA testing resources for beginners presented in one place, so we put together just the list you need. You can check it out here.
This list of the best beginner courses isn’t all Part 107, but most resources are. You can learn from experienced pros in the drone industry, including FAA employees and commercial pilots.
You don’t have to worry about a bunch of jargon and confusing verbiage being thrown your way. All the information is broken down simply. These are beginner courses, after all!
The pass rates for most courses is over 90 percent, but if you still have your doubts, know that you can get your course money back and the fee for your exam if you fail.
Pass the Part 107 test
By this point, you should feel adequately prepared for the commercial drone exam. Study up until test day, but make sure you get plenty of rest the night before.
You should also find your driver’s license or another form of photo ID, as the proctor at the FAA Knowledge Testing Center requires a government ID.
What can you bring with you? If you have a math calculator, measuring tools, and a protractor, the proctor should allow those items.
However, you don’t need them to take the exam, so don’t sweat it if you accidentally forget them.
You will have everything else you need provided to you when you check in, from writing instruments to the test booklet.
Turn off your phone and put it in the locker available at the Knowledge Testing Center. I’m sure I won’t surprise you when I say you can’t use your phone during the exam.
You have two and a half hours to take the exam. All questions are presented in multiple-choice format, so fill in the corresponding bubble to mark your answer. The aeronautic knowledge test has 60 questions overall.
What’s required to pass? You need a score of 70 percent. That means you must answer 42 questions correctly.
If you don’t pass, you have to wait two weeks, but you can take the Part 107 test again. However, you have to pay the $165 fee every time.
Drone Pro Academy
When you take the test, you’re protected under the Drone Pro Academy’s pass guarantee. Easily pass your FAA Part 107 exam.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Request your license through FAA Form 8710-13
When your test results go live, they will appear on IACRA. I can’t tell you when that will be, as much as I wish I could. It might be days, or it could be weeks.
I hope you get the news you were wishing for and pass the first time. However, if you don’t, don’t give up. Not every pilot aces the Part 107 exam on their first attempt, and that’s okay!
Upon passing, you can request your license. IACRA will send you a temporary version because it takes them less time to process requests than the FAA.
Your permanent version will arrive in your mailbox, but it can be a while before it happens.
So, how do you request your commercial drone certificate? By sending in Form 8710-13, which is accessible in IACRA. Select Start New Application on the IACRA website, choose Pilot from the dropdown menus, click Other Path Information, then choose Start New Application.
Form 8710-13 is simple to fill out, as it’s all straightforward, and IACRA has prompts that will guide you through the pages. Make sure to sign your name before submitting.
Then…you wait. IACRA will review your request and forward your information to TSA for a background check. If you pass that, you will see an email from IACRA not long after with the temporary license.
I have my drone license in North Carolina – Now what?
Congratulations on becoming a bonafide commercial drone license holder in North Carolina. This is a remarkable achievement, but your work isn’t quite done yet.
You have to register your drone(s) with the FAA. You should also look into drone insurance if you don’t already have it.
You have to pay it out-of-pocket, but it can be a lifesaver if you get into a drone accident. Insurance is also required in North Carolina for some drone uses.
Oh, speaking of North Carolina drone laws, read up on those here. NC has state and local laws to acquaint yourself with so you can stay on the straight and narrow.
Finally, get ready for your license expiration, which happens every two years.
The days of repeating the Part 107 test are graciously over, but you still have to take an exam to recertify. It’s free and online. Learn more about the process here.
